Loropetalum plant named &#39;KURENAI DAIOU&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Loropetalum  cultivar named ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ is disclosed, characterized by extremely large burgundy colored foliage. Additionally it has an upright very dense growing form, and larger than average petals. The new variety is a  Loropetalum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Loropetalum chinense

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KURENAI DAIOU’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newLoropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved floweringfor ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this newvariety was made during Apr. 20, 2005.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, propriety variety referred to asLoropetalum ‘1-8’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Loropetalum ‘1-30’. The new variety wasdiscovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 2005 crossing, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwoodcuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in KawaguchiCity, Saitama, Japan, in 2010 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ as a new and distinctLoropetalum cultivar:

-   1. Extremely large, attractive foliage compare to other Loropetalum    (6.0 cm long 4.4 cm wide).-   2. Consistent and uniform upright growth habit (5-6′)-   3. Very dense and full growing plant.-   4. Eye-catching, larger than average petals (2.4 cm).-   5. Nice burgundy foliage color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Loropetalum ‘1-8’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ differ in thefollowing;

-   1. Magenta/pink flowers. The seed parent flower color is dark red.-   2. Very large, elliptical leaves. The parent's leaves smaller and    ovate.-   3. Upright growth habit. The parent growth habit is spreading.-   4. Dark red foliage. The parent's foliage is nearly black.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Loropetalum ‘1-30’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ differs in thefollowing;

-   1. Magenta /pink flowers. The parent flower color is dark red.-   2. New variety foliage is much larger than pollen parent foliage.-   3. Blackish-red foliage. The parent's foliage is nearly black.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ are comparable to thepatented, commercial variety Loropetalum ‘Shang-hi’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.18,331. The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ differs in thefollowing:

-   1. Larger foliage, ranging from 2.5-6.0 cm long and 2.0-4.4 cm wide    compared to 4.2 cm long and 2.3 cm wide for those of the comparator.-   2. Longer petals, 2.4 cm compared to 1.7 cm of the comparator.-   3. Taller habit, 5-6′ compared to 4-5′ for the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ grown in a 1 gallon pot. Age of theplant photographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a rootedcutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage and flowers. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ plants grown in a greenhouse,in Grand Haven Mich. The growing temperature averaged from 60-65° F.during the day and from 40-50° F. during the night. Growing conditionsare double poly from Fall through Winter heated to 35° F. The poly wasremoved in the Spring. Shade cloth was used through the Summer.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   -   -   Botanical classification.—Loropetalum ‘KURENAI DAIOU’.

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.        -   Time to initiate roots.—18 days at 27° C.        -   Number of days to produce a rooted liner in summer.—110 days            at 27° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to thick, fibrous, free branching            and fleshy. Roots are purple to brown in color.

-   Plant:    -   -   Type of plant.—Perennial shrub.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years old.        -   Container size of the plant described.—1 gallon.        -   Appropriate containers sizes.—1 gallon and 2 gallon.        -   Growth habit.—Rounded, upright.        -   Height.—60-72 inches.        -   Plant spread.—60-72 inches.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to rapid.        -   Plant vigor.—Good.        -   Branching characteristics.—Lateral and some basal branching.        -   Pinching required.—Yes, increases branching.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Length: 25 cm            Quantity: 9 Diameter: 3 mm Color: Young stems: Near RHS            Greyed-orange 165A Older stems: Near RHS Brown 200C Aspect:            20-50° Strength: Good.        -   Internode length.—1.8 cm.

-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, Single Quantity: Approximately            30 per branch. Average Length: 2.5-6.0 cm. Average Width:            2.0-4.4 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptical to broad elliptic.            Tip: Acute Base: Oblique Margin: Entire Texture of top            surface: Slightly rough due to pubescence. Texture of bottom            surface: Ribbed due to protruding veins. Strong pubescence            on veins and midribs. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near            RHS Greyed-purple 187A Young foliage under side: Glaucous.            Near RHS Red-purple 59A Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Black 202A with undertones of green. Mature foliage under            side: Glaucous. Near RHS Greyed-green 191B Venation: Type:            Pinnate Venation color upper side: Midribs and veins are            depressed on the upper side. Color same as the leaf color.            Venation color under side: Midribs and veins are prominent            on the underside. Near RHS Greyed-purple Group 186A.            Petiole: Length: 0.3 to 0.5 cm Diameter: 1.5 mm Color: Near            RHS Brown 200C Durability of foliage to stresses: Good.

-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Perfect flowers,            comprised of strap-shaped petals, occurring in terminal            (mainly) and axillary (occasionally) umbels.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—5-7.        -   Flower type.—Perfect, strap-shape, self-cleaning.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright and outward.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—15-30.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—50-500 depending on maturity.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Fall. Begins blooming in            Spring, new blooms(reblooming)occurs until Fall.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bud.—Shape: Obovate Length: 5 mm Diameter: 4 mm Color: Near            RHS Red-purple 60C.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: 4 Shape: Linear Margin: Entire            Texture: Smooth, silky Appearance: Ribbon-like Length: 2.4            cm Width: 0.2 cm Tip: Truncate Color: When opening: Upper            surface: Near RHS Red-purple 61B Lower surface: Near RHS            Red-purple 61B Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS            Red-purple 61B Lower surface: Near RHS Red-purple 61B Petal            color fading to: Near RHS Red-purple 61A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 Appearance: Slightly            pubescent Arrangement: Whorl Shape: Ovate and fused,            slightly curled outward Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Tip:            Slightly reflexed Base: Fused Margin: Entire, smooth Color:            Immature upper and lower side: Near RHS Red-purple 60B            Mature upper and lower side: Near RHS Red-purple 59D.

-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4.        -   Pistil.—Number: 2.

-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Lowest temperature tolerant to.—5 to 10° F.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to            diseases or pets noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plantnamed ‘KURENAI DAIOU’ as herein illustrated and described.